There is an old Irish saying that goes something like this…
“There are only two kinds of people in the world, the Irish and those who wish they were.”
My husband and kids fall into the Irish category, and I am but a lowly Irish wannabe. Perhaps that’s why I go a little over the top with my St. Paddy’s Day celebrations. Maybe I’m trying to prove to them (and myself) that I deserve to celebrate … Read entire article »

Before you start thinking that I’ve gotten in the um, spirit of things where Halloween is concerned, let me say, “not really.” It’s just that I seem to be finding a myriad of ways to celebrate this holiday. Following through is another matter entirely. As usual, I’ll be going all out by simply getting the pumpkins carved in time for trick-or-treating.
Nevertheless, I’ve come across quite a few spookily-themed foods of late. This one, in my … Read entire article »

You know the drill. Easter is over. Chocolate bunnies sit in their baskets devoid of ears, pieces of shiny fake green grass are strewn from one end of the house to the other, and no fewer than two dozen eggs bide their time in the refrigerator, asking themselves but one thing:
“Will we be eaten? Or tossed to the curb with all that shiny fake green grass?”
Which is where I make a confession. As much as … Read entire article »

“(Tuesday) is Fat Tuesday, and of course, this being America, it will be followed by Even Fatter Wednesday, Obese Thursday and Fat-A** Friday.” –Jay Leno
How much do you love a holiday that has as it’s main objective encouraging you to pig out? I’m talking about Fat Tuesday, of course, which just happens to be today. Or perhaps in this politically correct day and age, we should call it “big-boned Tuesday” or possibly “full-figured Tuesday”. You … Read entire article »

Here at Coffee Break we just LOVE our Cheater recipes.
So what’s a “Cheater” recipe? It’s a way to end up with a delicious home cooked meal, side dish or dessert without spending lots of time to get there.
This recipe was sent to us by Coffee Break reader, Susan Stephens. I (Kate) decided to give the Cheater Chicken Parmesan recipe a try this week to see if the family would like it. I took some pics … Read entire article »

Do you remember when Thanksgiving meant absolutely nothing was open, store-wise? As in, you could drive through Anytown, America on that day and it was as if the streets had been rolled up. You were lucky to see a passing car.
My how things change. This year, a host of stores will be open on Thanksgiving Day. Theories are aplenty – perhaps it’s because lots of people want to beat the Black Friday crowds, or maybe stores are trying to generate the additional sales. Or maybe we’ve just lost touch of Thanksgiving all together.
Is it that difficult to stay clear of the stores for one day? That difficult to stay at home, eat some turkey, watch some football and chill?
I realize the movie theaters and bowling alleys are usually open Thursday. … Read entire article »

Yep, this is it – the day of days for the gobblers out there. The day when one lucky bird gets the ultimate gift: a pardon. Meanwhile an estimated 45 million will be landing on our dining room tables. For that, I am thankful.
Anywho, the presidential pardon will be given today. This whole pardoning thing began in 1989 with the elder George Bush, and has continued since. And two turkeys are pardoned, not one. (Think of it like the Miss America contest or something – if the winner can’t fulfill her duties, the alternate takes over…).
Until 2005, the pardoned turkeys were sent to live in the Turkey Barn at Kidwell Farm, a petting zoo located ironically enough at Frying Pan Park in Herndon, VA. But not before enduring a … Read entire article »

Are any of you fans of QVC? (I know one reader who is… and you know who you are…) I am a huge fan. I especially like David Venable. He’s sort of like a big loveable Teddy bear – you can’t help but like him. At least I can’t. Anyway, I follow him on Twitter and have his app on my cell phone.
Which is where his recipe comes in. The app features a list of his “app-only” recipes – many of which I’ve written down, hoping I’ll get around to fixing them. Last night, I was searching for something simple, relatively low in carbs and extremely high in taste.
Enter his recipe for Oven Baked Boneless Chicken Tenders. I’m telling you it was OFF THE CHARTS GREAT! (Actually they tasted just … Read entire article »

As you guys know, cooking is about as high on my list as a trip to the dreaded dentist. It’s not that I don’t like to cook. It’s more that I don’t like figuring out what to cook. Endless otherwise productive hours are spent coming up with something to fix, usually ending with me tossing some chicken nuggets in the oven and calling it done.
But sometimes I out-do myself. Like last night. Granted, I’ve fixed many a dinner that I really like. But this dish is ranking up there with one of my all-time favorites. And for a chick who doesn’t like to eat her own cooking, that’s saying something. So I figured it would be fun to highlight those dishes that rise above the fray – that stand out … Read entire article »

Before we do anything else, I must give credit to Come for the Wine for this rocking image that is oh-so-appropriate to today’s rant.
Now, on to the meat of the post. I have pine mouth.
I know what you must be thinking. “Did Liz eat a pine tree? Did she drink Pine-Sol? Did she put pine cones in her salad?”
No, no, and no.
This whole fiasco began last Friday, when, in an effort to tide me over until I ate real food, I popped a Ghiradelli’s Chocolate Hazelnut square in my mouth. As soon as I began to chew, my mouth was filled with a horribly bitter, maybe even metallic-y nasty taste. Kinda like I’d just eaten an asphalt and sheet metal sandwich or something (although I really don’t know what … Read entire article »

Have you offended anyone lately? Been the troublemaker in the family? Have you been spreading general havoc? If so, there’s no better day to change your ways than on July 25, as we celebrate National Get out of the Doghouse Day.
Even for those of you prone to that perpetual angelic state of being, you’d have to admit the best way to celebrate is by doing something you know is off limits, knowing that since it’s National Get out of the Doghouse Day, no one can stay mad at you for long. (Remember that timeless advice: ask for forgiveness, not permission…)
July 23 is Hot Enough For Ya Day, to which I can currently respond, “no, it isn’t.”
With highs in the upper 60s and lows in the upper 40s and low 50s, … Read entire article »

It’s Thursday, so that means it’s once again cheater recipe time.
So what’s a “Cheater” recipe?
It’s a way to end up with a delicious home cooked meal, side dish or dessert without spending lots of time to get there.
This week’s cheater recipe…
Stuffed Shells
in a Snap
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Ingredients:
1 pkg. jumbo pasta shells
1 jar spaghetti sauce
frozen Italian meatballs
2 cups shredded cheese
Directions:
1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain carefully and rinse in cold water.
2. Place 1/2 cup sauce in greased 9×13 pan.
3. Place a meatball in each shell and put in pan. Top with remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese.
4. Cover and bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake 5-10 minutes until bubbly.
More Cheater Recipes
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Healthy whole wheat spaghetti with meat sauce (thismamacooks.com)
thing I like to … Read entire article »

Thanks to everyone who entered last week’s giveaway. And thanks for visiting Coffee Break with Liz and Kate. We love our readers!
The winner of last week’s Hershey’s Chocolate Milk Tornado Mixer & Hershey’s Syrup +Calcium is…
WWillows6
Congrats! We’ll be sending you an email from lizandkate@live.com to get your mailing address.
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This week’s giveaway -
Sandwich and Chips Basket Set and Liners
Add some old-fashioned summertime flair and simplicity to this summer’s cookouts with a set of bright red baskets and red and white checkered liners. Perfect for a sandwich and fries, a basket of hot wings, or a little of anything in between, these adorable and re-usable baskets are sure to become one of your family’s favorites!
Set includes four red plastic baskets with 8 basket liners, as well as a package of 50 replacement … Read entire article »

It’s Thursday, so that means it’s once again cheater recipe time.
So what’s a “Cheater” recipe?
It’s a way to end up with a delicious home cooked meal, side dish or dessert without spending lots of time to get there.
This week’s cheater recipe…
Cheesy Hash Brown Bake
This one is sure to be a favorite. Hash browns make a delicious crust for the yummy sausage, egg and cheese filling. Great for breakfast, brunch, or at our house, dinner, since I don’t make this kind of stuff early in the mornings.
Ingredients:
1 pkg (20 ounces) shredded hash browns (thawed)
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tsp beef bouillon granules
1 lb. ground pork sausage
1/3 cup chopped onion (You can use the frozen pre-chopped kind to save time.)
1 cup cottage cheese
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup grated cheese
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, … Read entire article »